Rebuilding Armenia

May 2, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
By Georgia Brown

In 1988 an earthquake damaged or destroyed 80% of the buildings in the Armenian city of Gyumri, leaving half a million people homeless. Now, nearly 20 years later, a volunteer project has been launched in an attempt to preserve the city's ancient architecture.

Earthwatch, an international environmental charity, is recruiting volunteers to help document the region's remaining historic buildings. This information will then be passed on to local planners, architects, and designers. Without such documentation the city's distinctive architecture, which has been influenced by Greek, Roman, Russian and Turkish cultures that have passed through the area, would be lost.

"The new buildings, constructed after 1988, do not reflect Armenia's distinct heritage and character", says Earthwatch researcher Jane Britt Greenwood. "I hope that this project will help them to preserve their history and prove useful for managing future city growth and economic development."

Volunteers will work in the Kumayri Historic District sketching, measuring, and photographing historic buildings alongside local architects, as well as speaking with local homeowners about interior and external architectural features before the earthquake.

Earthwatch needs volunteers for 11 days from June 12 to 22, June 26 to July 6, July 10 to 20 and July 24 to August 3 2007. The project costs £1,650 which supports the research and covers accommodation in a local hotel, food and training.

For more information about this project visit www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/greenwood.html

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